MOD chief: "Shield East" is the largest operation to strengthen Poland's eastern border since 1945

The border has been a flashpoint since migrants started flocking there in 2021, after Belarus, a close Russian ally, opened travel agencies in the Middle East offering a new unofficial route into Europe - a move the European Union said was designed to create a crisis.

The Polish defence ministry presented details of the programme, including plans to build fortifications, hubs and telecommunication systems in coordination with other eastern frontline NATO allies - Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told a press conference held at the headquarters of the Polish General Staff the "Shield East" plan would include "fortifications and various types of barriers, but also state-of-the-art airspace monitoring systems in every parameter, at every altitude".

"This makes up one complex system of defensive and deterrent actions. It connects access systems, but we will also purchase and implement modern anti-drone and reconnaissance systems," he added.

"This is the largest operation to strengthen Poland's eastern border, NATO's eastern flank, since 1945," the MOD chief noted.

Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said the investments would start in the first quarter of 2025 and were expected to be completed by 2028. Poland hopes to tap EU funds for some of the projects.

"We want this project to start immediately. It will start this year. The planning is still in progress," Tomczyk said. "We want this project to be completed by 2028," he added.

"The estimated cost is about 10 billion zlotys ($2.55 billion) and this is only the material cost.

"It is also very important, it is a huge investment on our country's scale but also on NATO's scale. It is an additional safety buff which is very important to all of us. We want it to be covered by the means from our country's budget but also from European sources," Tomczyk explained.

Poland's previous government built a fence on the Polish-Belarusian border that is more than 180 km long (112 miles) and 5.5 metres (18 feet) high to protect against illegal migration. It is complemented by a system of cameras and sensors monitoring the frontier.

Relations between Poland and Russia have also deteriorated sharply since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into neighbouring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Warsaw has ramped up defence spending in response.